Nucleus Genomics

Nucleus Genomics
Company typePrivate
Incorporated2021
Founded2020
FounderKian Sadeghi
HeadquartersNew York, United States
Websitehttps://mynucleus.com/

Nucleus Genomics is an American startup company that provides polygenic risk scoring tests for in vitro embryos.[1][2] Founded in 2020 by Kian Sadeghi, the company states that its services enable prospective parents to select for certain genetic traits in their embryos.

History

The company was founded in 2020 by Kian Sadeghi in New York. Sadeghi was a 20-year-old computational biology drop-out from the University of Pennsylvania in that year.[3] He later raised about $32 million in funding, including from Peter Thiel, Balaji Srinivasan and Alexis Ohanian's venture capital company.[2][4][5]

The company states that uses what it calls "genetic optimization" in order to estimate the likelihood of a number of genetic traits of an embryo, including its IQ score, eye and hair color, height and its predisposition to having certain diseases, such as autism and cancer. The company outsources its genetic tests to Genomic Prediction, which sends its results back to Nucleus Genomics to further examination. Genomic Prediction founder Nathan Treff said that his company does not test embryos for their IQ.[2][6][7][8]

American geneticist Eric Turkheimer has described Nucleus Genomics as a "new eugenics compan[y]".[9] Sadeghi said that the company's "genetic optimization" test is not eugenics "by any stretch, because it's fundamentally about empowering people with information that they can use to give their child the best start in life".[6] He claimed in a video that his company was the first in history to help prospective parents "optimize their embryos based on intelligence".[10]

In 2025, the company launched a "multiplayer mode" feature for prospective parents to assess how their DNA would align. According to Sadeghi, the feature analyses "a couple's DNA, and we calculate their risk of passing down over 900 different conditions to their children".[11]

Scientific validity

Writing for the Scientific American, bioethicist Arthur Kaplan and geneticist James Tabery wrote that Nucleus Genomics "starts from existing technology, and uses that reliable foundation to then leap into the realm of fantastic claims that may entice venture capitalists and wealthy but naive customers." Kaplan and Tabery compared Sadeghi to Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, who they said was also a university dropout who exaggerated her company's abilities.[12][7]

Kaplan and Tabery wrote that, although certain genetic variants have been shown to have varying correlations with some human traits, research has consistently shown that there are no major genetic markers for intelligence, body-mass index or longevity. They wrote that polygenic risk scoring "for even straightforward medical conditions like asthma and stroke remains highly dubious". They also stated that Nucleus Genomics does not provide any innovative way of genetically optimizing embryos, but instead provides "old-school preimplantation genetic diagnosis... irresponsibly expanded to offer prospective parents the illusion of control over things like IQ and mental health when the science isn't there to support the claims".[12]

Kaplan and Tabery wrote that Nucleus Genomics' products could lead prospective parents to discard "perfectly healthy embryos". They also wrote that its "genetic optimization" service could result in parents expecting their children to live up to unusual standards due to the results of the tests they paid for.[12]

In an article for The Times, Tabery said that "[i]f Nucleus really lets you optimise your potential child's" human traits, "then there would be some deep ethical questions to ask about designer babies, the legacy of eugenics and the marketisation of children." Cambridge University geneticist Ruxandra Teslo said that Nucleus Genomics was a "non-rigorous company", adding that people should "speak out against this misuse of science".[7]

A statement by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics said that genetic screening through polygenic risk scoring has "moved too fast with too little evidence".[6] Some studies have described polygenic scores as imprecise and overly reliant on eurocentric datasets.[5] Geneticist Ben Williamson said that Nucleus Genomics was promoting "bad science as big business".[10]

Harvard Medical School associate professor Sasha Gusev stated about the company that "It was extremely obvious from the start that Nucleus had no idea what they were doing and were selling snake oil."[7] He said, referring to the company's service of assessing the risks of a child of two prospective parents developing certain diseases, that "This idea of partner screening before even having kids is relatively new and is not a use that has been offered. We are many steps away from where this is real and actionable."[11]

References

  1. ^ Regalado, Antonio (2025-12-05). "The ads that sell the sizzle of genetic trait discrimination". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  2. ^ a b c Marcus, Amy Dockser (2025-06-04). "Exclusive | Longevity Is Now a Factor When Picking an Embryo for IVF". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  3. ^ Conrad, Jennifer (2024-09-20). "This Genomics Company Says It's Considering Acquiring 23andMe". Inc. Archived from the original on 2025-09-05. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  4. ^ Sharma, Dristi (2025-11-20). "At This IVF Clinic, You Can Design Your "Best Baby" By Selecting Their Genes". NDTV.
  5. ^ a b MacColl, Margaux (2025-09-17). "A Q&A with the founder making designer babies accessible". sfstandard.com. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  6. ^ a b c Dokoupil, Tony; Earl, Jennifer (2025-12-03). "Nucleus Genomics CEO explains how "genetic optimization" tools help parents select traits they desire in babies". CBS News. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  7. ^ a b c d Ensor, Josie (2025-12-09). "'Have your best baby!': The genetics company promoting smart, tall babies". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  8. ^ Dalton, Angus (2026-02-04). "'Have a smarter baby': Australians choosing embryos for IQ, height and hair colour". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  9. ^ Clarke, Tom (2025-11-28). "Genetics testing start-up offers to 'genetically optimise' would-be parents' babies". Sky News. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  10. ^ a b Al-Sibai, Noor (2025-06-10). "Genetics Startup Advertises App-Based Eugenics Service for Parents to Select "Smartest" Embryos". Futurism. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  11. ^ a b Mikhail, Alexa (2025-03-23). "This company is launching a genetic matching feature for future parents—and the CEO says 'it has nothing to do with eugenics'". Fortune Well. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  12. ^ a b c Tabery, James (2025-12-01). "No, You Can't Design Your Baby—And Trying Would Be a Terrible Idea". Scientific American. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
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